Defiant: Noble Passions # 5 by Sabrina York with Excerpt

Welcome to my stop today with the BippityBoppityBook Tour for the next installment in the newly announced USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author, Sabrina York. Please read on to find out about Defiant, Book 5 in the Noble Passions Historical Erotic Romance series, and be sure to read the excerpt. Then, please do take a moment to check out the other tour stops for more exclusive excerpts and a few reviews!

Book Review:

Another visit with the Moncrieff and the McCloud, two names that strike fear and awe in the hearts of men, and encourage nothing but recalcitrance, eyerolls and outright defiance from their women. I adore this series for the spirited, brave and smart heroines who drive their male relations and lovers to distraction with their single-minded determination and refusal to cower under the threat of societal censure.

Those who have read the series will know of the rather unusual connections between the families, and the loyalties, humor and true passions that define them. In this story, Sophia the younger sister of Ewan has managed to survive three seasons in London without accepting a single proposal of marriage to the twenty seven men who have offered for her hand. Ewan, his heart in the right place, wants to continue to protect and guide his sister into a life free from care or worry, unlike their younger years. Sophia, however, is not interested in any of those men: she wants Ned. And adventures: constantly battling the ‘no cakes’, ‘no adventure’, no FUN restrictions on young women of her station, Sophia is constantly looking for distraction.

Ned, for his part is mired in his own feelings of uselessness and not being ‘enough’ to offer for Sophia. He has managed his desires for her by being the most unpleasant and disagreeable man he can to her: just testing the edges of politeness when they come in contact. When yet another night out results in his purchasing a horse and losing at cards, all debts that will be paid by his brother the Earl of Moncrieff, it is decided that Ned will be sent away to Italy to learn some responsibility, and curtail his friendships with disagreeable young rakes of London.

From here, the story takes Ned and Sophia on adventures galore: rough seas, a disabled ship, pirates, an attempt to escape foiled at the last minute and then a stand-off with the pirate captain, the returning Sophia is bold, determined and ever so angry when Ned, reacting from his instinct to protect, jumps in front of the gun and takes a bullet meant to kill his brother.

If you are looking for a ‘traditional’ Regency with simpering heroines, rakes who care only about themselves and a strict adherence to the expectations of society – you need to look elsewhere. The men have worked diligently to assure their place in society, and play with their well-deserved reputations to assure acceptance, cache and an element of “don’t mess with us” that is prominent in every drawing room in London. The women are smart, determined, loyal and as honest as they need to be in their pursuit of their own desires. Sophia is no wilting flower, her early years had her well aware of the goings-on between men and women, and her self-confidence and curiosity combined with her good-nature and enjoyment of all things “adventurous’ have her leading Ned by the nose, or other projecting parts, to her ultimate goal.

Fun, funny and oh so steamy, Sophia is possibly my favorite heroine of this series, and I adore her ability to remain utterly non-plussed in the face of her brother’s overwhelming temper…

Until a scratch came at the door. And then a knock. And then a rattling pound. It was unnecessary for Ewan to break it down as he did.

“Yes, Ned,” she said. “I enjoyed it very much. It had been a grand adventure. She never wanted another adventure again.

This book was a grand adventure, but I cannot wait for the next from this author!

When rakish Ned falls in with the wrong crowd, his brother decides to send him to the Continent for “seasoning”. For Sophia, this just won’t do. She’s loved Ned for ages—and also longed for adventure. She runs away from her boring suitors and disguises herself as a cabin boy on the Defiant, the ship sailing Ned to Italy.

Ned knows he’s not good enough for Sophia, but once they’re on the Defiant, he can’t stop himself from touching her, tasting her, loving her. Not when a wild tempest and a band of ruthless pirates threaten them. Not when every look from her gives him such pleasure. And certainly not when she comes, warm and wild and willing, to his bed.

If they survive their voyage, Sophia’s brother might kill him, but it will have been worth every moment and every hot, sweet kiss.

A copy of this title was provided via for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Excerpt

It was torture being so close to her now, knowing nothing could come of it.At the same time, it was heaven. This was all he would ever have of her. He should savor it.

The ship lurched and he teetered on the edge of the bed. Madly, he grabbed for the rail built into the wall of the bunk. He’d wondered why one would build a rail into the wall of a bunk. Now he understood.

Still, it was an awkward position. He lay on his side, trying desperately not to touch Sophia, with his arm practically around her as he clenched for purchase and tried to sleep.

Sleep?

Hell, there would be no sleep on this night. Not for him.

But he was wrong.

At some point, he must have drifted off, because when he awoke, they had both shifted positions. He was on his back, and she was draped over him, with her cheek resting on his chest and her thigh draped over his—

Holy God.

He was stone hard in a breath.

He locked his muscles and tried not to move.

Holy God.

His pulse thrummed in his temple. When she murmured in her sleep and rubbed her leg up and down on his aching cock, he went cross-eyed.

It felt so good. But it was so wrong.

So utterly wrong.

That her legs were bare didn’t help.

Ewan would kill him simply for entertaining the thoughts whipping through his mind.

Sophia nestled closer. Her spiky hair scraped against the underside of his chin. Her hand skated over his chest. The ship heaved and he tightened his arms around her. Surely that was the reason. The only reason.

She blew out a sigh and her breath danced across his neck. He squeezed his eyes closed and tried not to imagine it was a kiss.

He’d been with women before—he was hardly a green lad—but he’d never wanted like this. Never had such a feral need, so strong it made him tremble. And he was not a trembling man. All he could think of was rolling her over, spreading her thighs and mounting her. The desire to do so blinded him.

Instead, he fisted his hands in the covers and held as still as he could while she found a comfortable spot on his body.

He must have been a wicked child. He must have committed some heinous sin for God to punish him so.

But he was a strong man. And he was an honorable man. And he was a stubborn man. And her brother was very large. So Ned banished his lust. Wiped it completely from his mind, focusing on a horse he’d seen at Tattersall’s and the price of tea in India and the lineage of the English kings.

He had almost succeeded in reigning in his arousal when her lips touched his neck, just under his ear.

She was still sleeping, soft and warm against him, but her lips touched his neck. And then her tongue.

The lust he’d thought quiescent raged to the fore. He could not hold back his groan. It did not wake her. She riffled a little snore and settled back down.

Scant moments later, her hand began to rove. She, in her sleep, rubbed his chest, his sides, his arms. Her palm drifted over a nipple, sending rivulets of pleasure through him, but still, he did not move. Did not yank her away as he should.

It was far too alluring.

The effort of holding preternaturally still wore on him; his muscles began to shake. A sheen of sweat broke out on his brow. Still she explored him. Her tiny hand skated down—he sucked in a breath—but then it skated back up again, beneath his shirt. He groaned at the sensation of her skin on his.

She kissed him again, just a tiny buss, her open mouth against his neck. Her lips closed in a tiny suck.

His vision blurred.

Thank heaven she was sleeping, else he would have to stop her.

He would have to stop her at some point, he reminded himself. He wasn’t sure how long he could bear the torment. In fact, he was very close to a disaster. Yes. He should stop her. But not yet. Not just yet.

About Sabrina York

Sabrina York is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and a 2017 RITA® Nominee for her Historic Romance Susana and the Scot, as well as an author of over twenty-five novels, which range from sweet and snarky to scorching romance.

Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazon or wherever e-books are sold. Visit her website to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Get the Free Teaser Book, and don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!